A low cost, quick turn solution to getting your business on the web.
Just starting out?
Not convinced the internet is right for you?
Need a website on a budget?
Then the Basic Package is the best solution for you.
Starting at just $500*, the Basic Package will get you a 5 page website with the off the shelf theme of your choice.
I install WordPress, the theme of your choice, add the content you provide (including up to 20 photos or images), and configure the site to help the search engines, like Google™ and Bing™, find you.
I’ll walk you through the process.
So what will you do with your 5 pages?
A typical website will include:
- Home
- About Me
- Services Offfered
- Directions/Contact Us
- News/Blog
But you can have anything you want.
- You have more than 5 pages? That’s great! The cost for each additional page is very reasonable.
- You have a photo portfolio? I can add more photos for a small fee.
- You have a contact form or email newsletter service? I’ll get those added, too.
Check out the Portfolio page for some examples of the Basic Website Package.
The Fine Print
This is where things get a bit technical. If you’re not sure you understand something, just let me know.
Web Hosting
I use WordPress as the ‘engine’ of all of my web pages. Like an automobile engine, the rest of the car needs to be matched up with the engine. If they’re not well matched, you can end up with mechanical failures. Using this analogy, the web hosting is like the body and suspension of the car. We need one that works well with the engine.
Not every web hosting service is suitable. To get all technical: I require a web host with PHP5, MySql, cpanel, and Fantastico support. Anything less requires a few hours of searching through their knowledge base to figure out how to install and configure WordPress and the database it uses. As a small business owner, you know that time = money. If you want to spend the money, I’m happy to spend the time. But you’ve got better things to spend your money on, like stationary, custom golf clubs, or food.
I have identified a couple of web hosting companies that offer competitive pricing, good technical know-how, great customer support and all the bells and whistles you could ever need. These are companies wI’ve dealt with in the past. In fact, this page is hosted on Lunar Pages. I don’t recommend companies we don’t believe in or use myself.
Webhosts that are not recommended will incur additional costs. These are companies whose hosting packages requires lots of extra time and cause a great deal of NSFW muttering. GoDaddy, unfortunately, is not on my list of recommended vendors. Yahoo webhosting will not support the current release of WordPress and is not supported at all.
Affiliate money – yes, I get paid from the web hosting companies when you click on my links. That’s not evil, that’s just good sense: the web hosting company is subsidizing your website with a one time payment. I could forgo the affiliate money, but I’d have to raise our prices.
Already have hosting? I’ll need to review your current host’s capabilities. If they meet my requirements, easy peasy. If not, you’ll either need to change web hosting companies or find another web designer. Harsh, I know, but I’m trying to keep the prices low.
Domain Names
That’s the stuff that comes after the www. Before you rush out and reserve your domain name, keep in mind that the web hosting companies I recommend offer the first year of domain name for free and they will take care of renewing your domain name every year.
Theme
“What in the blue blazes is a theme?”, you ask. Let’s head back to our automobile analogy. If WordPress is the engine, the theme is the body style and paint color. Themes range in price from free to $100 or so with most of the paid themes being in the $30 – $50 range.
Who designs themes? Graphic designers, that’s who. I guess it’s what they do when they’re sitting around bored and are tired of watching re-runs. There’s no denying that there are some beautiful, powerful themes available for a very reasonable amount of money.
Again, I have theme marketplaces that I recommend. Yes, I get affiliate money from some of them. The real reason I use these marketplaces is because the themes available have been thoroughly checked out and are virus/malware/spamware free. It’s your company’s reputation on the line here and you don’t want to be spreading viruses, do you?
Why I want you to buy the hosting, domain names, and themes
I believe that web hosting is best left to the experts, not some guy with a server in his spare bedroom.
These items are crucial to your business and you should retain the rights to them. You’ll be able to hire a different web designer if you choose, or change themes if you get tired of the one you picked.
I believe in empowering you.
So Let’s Get Your Business on the Web
* Price does not include costs of hosting, domain name, or theme. Hey, for this price, you didn’t expect it to, did you?